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Bliss, Robert Woods, 1875-1962

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1875 - 1962

Found in 274 Collections and/or Records:

1964 bulb order for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss's 1537 28th Street residence from Matthew Kearney to Ralph Cook, June 11, 1965 Digital

File — Box: F, Folder: 3a, item: 31Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, F3a:BulbOrder 1965.06.11
Scope and Contents:

Typescript garden bulb order for 1964 with note added to return to Matthew Kearney's file. Order originally made attention to Mr. Ralph Cook.

Article from Archaeological Notes by Marvin Ross titled "Two Gem Carvings of the IV Century A.D." from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred and Robert Bliss, 1957 Digital

File — Box H, Folder: 7a, item: 7Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, H7a:Two Gem Carvings
Scope and Contents:

Typescript article written by Marvin C. Ross titled, "Two Gem Carvings of the IV Century A.D. and two photographs published under Archaeological Notes in the American Journal of Archaeology, 61, 1957, pages 173-174 and plate 67. Plate 67 includes Fig. 1, Intaglio of Constantine the Great, from a cast and Fig. 2 Chalcedony gem. Head of a youth, IV century, both in the Walters Art Gallery.

Barbara Sessions, 1938-1943

Sub-Group — Box H, Folder: 2Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents:

Correspondence including letters and telegrams to, from, or about Barbara Sessions, librarian at Dumbarton Oaks and Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection.

Bernard and Mary Berenson papers

Collection Identifier: BER -8
Scope and Contents:

The papers contain for both Mary and Bernard Berenson biographical material, diaries, correspondence, and writings, both published and unpublished. There is also an extensive file of "Berensoniana," writings about Berenson and Villa I Tatti, but excluding reviews of publications. The papers are organized into seven series: I. Biographical, II. Collections, Villa I Tatti, and Harvard, III. Diaries, IV. Correspondence, V. Research and Writings, VI. Berensoniana, and VII. Photographs.

Mildred Barnes and Robert Woods Bliss correspondence with Kirsopp and Silva Lake

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks
Collection Identifier: MS.BZ.003
Scope and Contents: The collection contains correspondence among Robert Woods and Mildred Barnes Bliss and Kirsopp and Silva Lake, most commonly letters between Kirsopp Lake and Mildred Barnes Bliss. There are also project proposals, fieldwork reports, and a single set of photographs of the Citadel of Van. These documents relate to financial support provided by the Blisses for various projects undertaken by the Lakes, most notably an archaeological expedition to Lake Van in eastern Turkey in 1938 and 1939....

Bliss, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods [Mildred (Barnes) Bliss], July 1938-1946

Item — Box 9: Series I., Folder: 207-210.Identifier: HC 2, I., 207-210.
Scope and Content: The correspondence in this series documents Edward Waldo Forbes' career as Director of the Fogg Museum, his research interests in the technical study of works of art, his national and international travels, his role as a mentor to students and colleagues, his involvement on boards and committees, and various other personal and professional endeavors and interests. The papers date from 1867 to 2005, with the bulk spanning the years 1909-1944, and consist primarily of...

Bliss, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods [Mildred (Barnes) Bliss], [1949-1970, 1991]

Item — Box 11: Series I., Folder: 218Identifier: HC 5, I., 218.
Scope and Content: The correspondence in this series covers many topics, reflecting Coolidge and Mongan's involvement in a wide range of activities. Although their papers are interspersed, the bulk was generated by Coolidge and his administration (1948-1968). The bulk of Mongan's papers in this collection were created during her administration of the museum (1968-1971), but there is some earlier correspondence, beginning as early as the 1940s. In addition, there is material in the collection from former...

Bliss, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods [Mildred (Barnes) Bliss]; See Museums, Private Collections-Dumbarton Oaks folder, 1926-1938, 1982

Item — Box 9: Series I., Folder: 201-206.Identifier: HC 2, I., 201-206.
Scope and Content: The correspondence in this series documents Edward Waldo Forbes' career as Director of the Fogg Museum, his research interests in the technical study of works of art, his national and international travels, his role as a mentor to students and colleagues, his involvement on boards and committees, and various other personal and professional endeavors and interests. The papers date from 1867 to 2005, with the bulk spanning the years 1909-1944, and consist primarily of...

Papers of Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss, approximately 1860-1969

Collection Identifier: HUGFP 76.xx
Overview:

Robert Woods Bliss (1875-1962) and his wife, Mildred Barnes Bliss (1879-1969) were prominent art collectors and the founders of Dumbarton Oaks, an estate which they developed and conveyed in 1940 to Harvard University as the Center for Byzantine Studies. Contains personal, philanthropic and United States Foreign Service-related papers.

"C" Miscellaneous, 1938-1957

Sub-Group — Box E, Folder: 2Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents:

Correspondence, photographs and a drawing sent to Mildred Bliss or Robert Woods Bliss from individuals with a last name beginning with "C".

Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Dumbarton Oaks Park

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Photographs
Sub-Series — Folder 13Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents: Thirty-seven black and white photographs, 2 color photographs, and a collection of photographs with drawings and notes of the Dumbarton Oaks Park which refers to the 27-acre parcel of land that Robert and Mildred Bliss donated to the National Park Service in 1940. The acreage is now considered a part of Rock Creek Park.When it was part of the Bliss estate, the park belonged to Beatrix Farrand’s garden design. It served as a rustic counterpoint to the complex and formal garden...

Dumbarton Oaks Garden, East Lawn

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Photographs
Sub-Series — Folder 14Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents: Twenty black and white photographs and 5 color photographs of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden, East Lawn is an unbroken expanse of grass stretching from the entrance of the house southeast to the R Street wall.In her Plant Book for Dumbarton Oaks, Beatrix Farrand, landscape gardener called the East Lawn “one of the loveliest of the features of Dumbarton Oaks in its freedom from detail” (p. 20). To frame the open lawn, Farrand planned perimeter plantings chosen for their size and...

Dumbarton Oaks Garden, Fellows' Quarters and Yard

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Photographs
Sub-Series — Folder 16Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents: Photographs of the Dumbarton Oaks property taken between 1920 when Mildred and Robert Bliss bought the estate property and 1979 including and beyond when it was donated to Harvard University in 1940. The early photographs from approximately 1920-1949 are in black and white. Later photographs from approximately 1950-1979 are in color.Those that photographed the Dumbarton Oaks Garden included Stewart Bros. Photographer (Washington, D.C.); Ursula Pariser, Dumbarton Oaks staff...

Dumbarton Oaks, Requests, 1933-1938

Sub-Group — Box E, Folder: 8Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents:

Requests sent by individuals to Dumbarton Oaks and Robert and Mildred Bliss. Six letters are copies of letters sent by Mildred Bliss or her secretary in response to requests. Two copies, one letter and one telegram, sent by Robert Woods Bliss or his secretary responding to individual requests.

Dumbarton Oaks, Requests, 1939-1941

Sub-Group — Box E, Folder: 9Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents:

Requests sent to Dumbarton Oaks or Mildred or Robert Woods Bliss.

Dumbarton Oaks, Robert Woods Bliss, Mildred Bliss, and People

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Photographs
Sub-Series — Folder 6Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001
Scope and Contents:

30 black and white photographs of Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Bliss and people associated with them. Photographs include portraits and snapshots. One photograph is of a drawing of Mildred Bliss. Photographs of: Royall Tyler, and a group of Dumbarton Oaks Gardeners.

Estimate from William Hughes, Inc., 2800 Eighth Street N.E., Washington 17, D.C. to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Dumbarton Oaks, Attn. Miss Ruth Havey, landscape architect, Dumbarton Oaks, March 31, 1956 Digital

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Correspondence / Sub-Series: Ruth Havey
File — Box L, Folder: 21Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, L:Hughes 1956.03.31
Scope and Contents:

Estimate with handwritten signature from William Hughes, Inc. to Robert and Mildred Bliss in care of Ruth Havey. Hughes proposes to do complete a wall for Dumbarton Oaks for $3995. He provides detail on how the work would be done.

Excerpt from a letter sent by Bella and James Bryce to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, October 8, 1959 Digital

FOUND IN: Dumbarton Oaks / Collection: Dumbarton Oaks Garden Archives / Series: Correspondence / Sub-Series: Plant Lists
File — Box I, Folder: 1Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, I:Bryce 1959.10.08
Scope and Contents:

Typescript excerpt of a letter sent from James Bryce to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss reporting back to them on locating the nursery for the Eucryphia shrub for which they inquired about. It is about twenty miles from him. He describes the shrub to them and will write when he finds it.

The handwritten letter from which the excerpt is taken is I:Bryce 1959.10.08B.

Exchange of letters and a memorandum between Frances S. Fink, 104 Clark Road, Brookline 46, Massachusetts; John Thacher; Robert and Mildred Bliss, Washington, D.C.; Sally Fairchild, Boston; and C. I. Denison on a provenance inquiry for the Gainsborough portrait, February 6-10, 1956 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 11, item: 2Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E11:Gainsborough 1956.02.10
Scope and Contents: Exchange of letters regarding the provenance of the Gainsborough portrait by Mrs. Jordan owned by Robert and Mildred Bliss. The inquiry from Frances S. Fink resulted in a memorandum from John Thacher to Robert and Mildred Bliss. Mildred writes Miss Sally Fairchild, whose mother sold the sketch to Mildred Bliss's father, Demas Barnes if she remembered any provenance information. Mildred Bliss asks Sally Fairchild to respond to Frances S. Fink as the women both live in Boston. Copy...

Exchange of letters between Arline B. Newcomb, 800 Academy Street, Kelso, Washington and Anne Sweeney, December 9- 29, 1944 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 95Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:AS 1944.12.29
Scope and Contents: Handsigned letter from Arline B. Newcomb to Anne Sweeney remarking on the Dumbarton Oaks garden and if any material on it could be sent to her to share with a friend. A copy of typescript letter from Anne Sweeney, Dumbarton Oaks Garden Guide to Arline B. Newcomb offers a response to an unanswered letter received December 9th. Sweeney thinks it is very kind for Newcomb to speak so well of Dumbarton Oaks to friends in the far west. "Naturally, the Peace Conferences held here this summer have...

Exchange of letters between Elwin J. Sasser, 1316 Church Street, Marietta Georgia and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss and Mr. Robert Woods Bliss's secretary, August 17-22, 1957 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 105Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Sasser 1957.08.17
Scope and Contents: Typescript letter with handwritten signature from Elwin J. Sasser to Mildred Bliss expresses his appreciation for having the opportunity to broaden his knowledge of landscape architecture and its influence in our daily lives through the award of the Garden Scholarship. He is to be employed by the National Park Service. He reports that the examples of landscape architecture design that he has observed and the phases of garden work in which he participated at Dumbarton Oaks will greatly...

Exchange of letters between Eva H. Bowles, Women's Auxiliary, American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, District of Columbia and the Honorable Robert Woods Bliss and his secretary, March 2-15, 1938 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 8, item: 4Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E8:MBsec 1938.03.15
Scope and Contents:

Handwritten letter from Eva H. Bowles (Mrs. Oliver Bowles) to Robert Woods Bliss asks to hold a charity event in the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. It would benefit the the Woman's Auxiliary of the Mining and Metallurgical Engineers educational fund to provide scholarships to students of high standing interested in mining, metallurgy, or geology. Robert Woods Bliss's secretary sends a regret on his behalf tells Bowles they have already promised other charities to which they are interested in.

Exchange of letters between Jane James Cook, The Warrington, 3908 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, March 23, 1937; July 11, 1937; November 29, 1937 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 4, item: 30Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E4:Cook 1937.11.29
Scope and Contents: Two handwritten letters from Jane James Cook to Mildred Bliss and one copy of a typescript letter from Mildred Bliss to Jane Cook. In the letter dated March 23rd, [1937] Jane Cook tells Mildred Bliss that three members of the "Garden Club of Twenty" in Baltimore attended a meeting at Mrs. Wiliner's in Washington and afterwards decided to pay a visit to the Blisses estate or at least taking a peep at it through the chink in the wall. She mentions seeing Mildred's beautiful exhibits at the...

Exchange of letters between Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss and representatives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union on the donation of Parklyn's 1797 aquatint of Mount Vernon, July 5, 1951-January 26, 1952 Digital

File — Box: F, Folder: 6, item: 9Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, F6:Mt Vernon 1952.01.26
Scope and Contents: Handwritten and typescript letters and notes between Mildred Bliss, Elsa A. Needham, her secretary, Charles C. Wall, Superintendent of Mt. Vernon and representatives of the Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union about the Blisses donation of the Parklyn's aquatint of Mt. Vernon. There are handwritten on notes by Mildred Bliss with contact informtion for Mrs. Hope K.H. Powel, Regent of the Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union; letters from Mrs. Hope K.H. Powel and Elizabeth H....

Exchange of letters between Mrs. T. Temple Hill, State Chairman, District of Columbia. Daughters of the American Revolution, 2904 P Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. to Honorable Robert Woods Bliss, 3101 R Street, Washington, D.C. and his secretary, approximately March 18-31, 1935 Digital

File — Box E, Folder: 8, item: 20Identifier: DDO-RB-GAR-001, E8:Temple Hill 1935.03.28
Scope and Contents: Exchange of handwritten and typescript letters between Philippa Temple (Mrs. T. Temple Hill) and Robert Woods Bliss and his secretary. Mrs. Temple asks if the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks could be opened to benefit the Student Loan Committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Distric of Columbia organization. Robert Woods Bliss's secretary responds on his behalf and tells Hill that Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss have already granted permission for several formal days, so would be...